Game board



Jan.

GAME BOARD Filed Feb. 25, 1932 Zi 25 /O X o o lo www I Patented 10.11.17, 1933 SIIAS E. LYNCH, F DALLAS, TEXAS GAME BOARD Application led February 28, 1932. Serial No. 594,465.

This invention relates to new and useful im rovements in game boards.

gne of the objects of the invention is to provide a game board comprising a deck having openings of varying hazard, which deck includes a stationary portion and a rotating disk mounted within the stationary portion, both said stationary portion and the rotating portion having ball receiving openings.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a game board of the inclined deck type a rotating section flush with the playing surface of the deck so that the balls w1ll roll onto said section by gravity, or will roll away from said section because of the same a ency. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotating section in a game board deck provided with pockets for receiving and retaining the game balls and with upstanding elements for deflecting or casting'the balls from the pockets and from the section. f

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an inclined game board deck a rotating disk having its upper surface flush with the top surface 'of the inclined deck and rapidly rotated by suitable means.

A construction designed to carry out the 1nlvention will be hereinafter described together 3o with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following spec1- ication and by reference-to the accompanying drawing in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a planview of a game board constructed in accordance with the invention, v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional y4() view taken onthe liner 2 2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a detail showing the retaining anni unloading means for the pockets of the dis In the drawing the numeral 10 designates a rectangular casing which may be of any suitable design and finish. The casing is provided with an inclined top 11 having mounted therein a transparent sheet or panel of glass or other suitable material. Spaced below the panel l2 and substantially parallel therewith is an inclined deck 13. A `plate 14: is slidabl supported Ion the under side of the deck y means of a headed stud 15 extending through a slot 16 in said plate near the upper end of the deck. The lower end ofthe slide plate is secured to a push bar 17 mounted in the front wall of the casing and having a handle 18.

The deck is provided with numerous spaced openings 19 which may be of any shape and located to suit the fancy of the builder. Discharge slots or openings 2O are provided in the lower end of the deck as is shown in Figure 1. Upstanding defiector or buffer pins 21 are studded in the deck to form barriers and deilecting elements about and between the openings 19, whereby a ball projected onto the deck will be deflected upon striking said pins and thereby caused to move from one portion to another portion of said deck, or into said pockets, while rolling down the deck.

At one side of the deck a. chute 22 is formed by a longitudinal wall 23, and at-the lower endof this chute a spring pressed plunger 24 is arranged. This plunger has an exterior handle 25 by which it may be operated. At the upper end of the deck a curved or arched baffle 26 is secured between the deck and the chute by the plunger will either strike the baile or one of the pins 21 in its path, and

thus be deflected onto the deck down which it will roll by gravity colliding with such pins as may be in its path. The parts which have been described are in common use and have been set forth to more clearly explain the invention.

In carrying out the invention a circular opening 27 is formed in the deck, preferably y Within the opening, l provide a flat disk 28 havin a turning it therein and'substantially ilus with the upper surface of said deck.

The deck is secured to the upper end of the shaft 29 of an electric motor 30 which is Secured in a hanger 31. The hanger is fas-- tened to the under side of the deck engaging the same through slots 32 in the plate 14.

The disk 28 is rotated by the motor, and a type of motor is employed which will rotate the disk at the proper rate of speed. lt is pointed out that `if the rotation of the disk is too fast its purpose will be defeated. The disk has been illustrated as'having a plurality of openings 33 similar to the openings 19, and also provided with studded pins 34. These pins are either grouped about one of the openings or otherwise promiscuously located on the disk, the idea being to deflect the ball from the openings and from the disk, rather than to permit the ball to lodge in said openings I The slide oard 14 is provided with open'- lngs 19', 20 and 33 and a slot 35. When they balls are being projected onto the deck, the slide plate 14 is pulled downwardly and forms a bottom for the openings in the deck and the openings in the disk. The shaft 29 extends through the slot 35 thus permitting the plate 14 to be slid. Upon pushing inwardly on the handle 18 the plate 14 is slid upwardly until the lower end of the slot 16 engages the stud 15. This causes the openlngs 19 to register with the openings 19, and the openings 20 to register with the openings 20. At the same time the openings 33 and the upper end of the slot 32 are brought into position so that the o enings 33 of the disk will ass thereover. this 'arrangement all bals will drop from the deck through the plate and be caught. upon ,an inclined false bottom 36 spa-ced below the slide plate.

It will be noted that the chute 22 has an inclined bottom 37 extending below the deck 13 as is indicated in Figure 2. The bottom 36 has a sump 38 at the front of the casing and this is given a slight incline (not shown) so as to cause the balls to roll one by one through an opening 39 in the wall 23 lof the chute. When the plunger 24 is retracted a ball'will roll into the chute in front ofy said plunger and when the plunger is released the ball will be propelled up the chute onto the deck. l

A suitable electric switch 40 is mounted on the casing so as to be accessible, and the same is shown 4in the front thereof. This switch has connection with a cable 41 extending to the motor 30 and also with a cable 42 con- -nected with a source of electric power.

While I have shown an electric motor for rotating the disk it is to be understood that any means may be employed'for rotating the dis and the same may be continuously rotated, intermittently rotated, or spun.

ln playing the game the operator grasps the handle 25 and withdraws the plunger 24 under the tension of its spring. This permits one of the balls from the sump 38 to roll through the opening 39 in front of the plunger. Upon releasing the plunger the ball `not shown) is shot u the chute 22- onto the eck 13. This ball will either travel around the baille 26 or strike one of the pins 21 at the upper end of the deck. The ball will then start to roll down the deck and upon striking other pins will be deflected or buEeted over the surface of the deck. 1f the ball does not lodge in one of the openings it will roll down the deck and either pass on one side of the disk 28 or roll onto the same. The operator having closed the switch 40 and set the disk in motion, it will be seen thatthe ball will most likely strike one of the pins 34 and be deflected against other pins or thrown from the disk by centrifugal force. y

Upon being thrown from the disk the ball may strikeadjacent pins 21 and cast back upon said disk, or it might roll to the lower end of the deck. The ball may roll onto the disk several times after being cast therefrom and may lodge in one of the openings 19 or pass down the deck.- If the ball should roll into one of the pockets 33 it will be retained therein rolling on the plate 14 as the disk rotates. When all of the balls have been shot Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modications and alterations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Havlng illustrated and described a vpreferred form of the invention, what I claim is 1. 1n a game, an inclined deck having ballreceiving openings, deflecting elements on said deck, a rotating disk mounted in said deck and having ball-receiving openings and deecting elements mounted thereon for casting oil a ball rollin thereonto from :said deck, and a slide un er said deck and disk normally closing the bottoms of the openings thereof and having openings for registering with the openings of said deck.

2. A game board comprising adeck including a stationary portion, and a rotating deecting elements for casting o' a ball rolling thereonto from said stationary portion.

4. A game board as set forth in claim 2, wherein the stationary portion is provided with defieeting elements so arranged as to render the rotating disk dii'cult of access.

5., A game board as set forth in claim 2, wherein both the stationary and rotary portions are provided with deecting elements.

In testimony whereof I aIx my signature.

SILAS H. LYNCH. 

